Dental plugger



(No Model.) I

H. ORAGIE. DENTAL PLUGGER.

N0. 420,532. Patented Feb. 4, 1890 an acute angle, as shown.

UNITED STATES PATENT EFICE.

HENRY CRAIGIE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DENTAL PLUGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,532, dated February4, 1890.

Application filed May 9, 1889. Serial No. 310,161. (No model.)

city and county of San Francisco, and State.

of California, have invented an Improvement 7 in Dental Pluggers; and Ihereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

My invention relates to the class of dental pluggers; and my. inventionconsists in the constructions and combinations of devices which I shallhereinafter fully describe and claim.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinalsection of my dental plugger. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sect-ion.

A is the stock or handle of the instrument,

having at one end a socket or seat portion a for the point-holderarranged at an angle with the main portion of the stock, preferably atIn this socket or seat is fitted and adapted to slide the holder B,which is to receive the plugging-point, unnecessary herein to show. Thisholder is controlled and returned to position by means of a spring, thearrangement and particular operation of which will be hereinafter fullydescribed, The upper end 1) of the holder passes through the top of thesocket portion a, and is adapted to receive the blow of the hammer.

O is the hammer, the stem 0 of which is pivoted at c in the stock of theinstrument, and said hammer is caused to deliver its blow under theinfluence of a spring D, which is pivotedat d in the stock A. The end ofthe hammer-stem rests on the end of the spring, and the power of saidspring is regulated and controlled by means of a set-screwd, seated inthe stock and bearing down on the spring at a point back of its pivotalcenter, whereby its forward end presses with more or less force underthe end of the hammer-stem, thereby controlling the blow of the hammer.

Pivoted in the stock A, at e, is the operating-lever E, by which thehammer is raised, so that when released it will deliver its blow underthe influence of its spring D. A small set-screw e in the top of thelever bears up under the hammer-stem, and by its adjustment controls thedistance of movement of the hammer, and the consequent length of itsstroke.

Secured to the sliding plugger-point holder B is a contact -spring F,the upper end of which is adapted to come in contact with the end oflever E, so as to raise said lever into contact with the hammer as saidholder moves upwardly. The end of the spring on the downwardmovement ofthe holder yields, so as to pass the lever end to resume its normalposition.

The downward movement of the lever E is limited by a cross-pin e instock A, against which the lever comes in contact and remains inposition ready for the next engagement of the contact-spring F. Thisspring is guarded and stiffened by a rigid piece f, secured to theholder, and which lies upon the outer face of the spring nearly up toits end, leaving said end projecting, however, so as to yield to passthe lever on its downward movement, but sufficiently stiffening it onits upward stroke so as to raise the lever and hammer.

The bearing and controlling-spring for the upper end of the holder areas follows: G is a long tubular bearing or guide, which fits upon andabout the upper end b of the holder, and is secured in the socket orseat portion a of the stock in suitable manner, here shown by means of athreaded flange g on its upper end. A spiral spring H encircles thetubular bearing and the lower portion of end I) and rests between theflange g of the'bearing and v A finger-rest I stem, and sufficientlyraised therefrom or grooved underneath to avoid interference with themovement of the hammer. This rest is conveniently located for theapplication and pressure of the finger.

The operation of the instrument is as follows: The point being forcedupon the material to be condensed, the stock moves forwardly, its socketend a sliding over the holder until the end of the lever E, coming incontact with the projecting end of contact-spring F, is therebytemporarily arrested, while the stock, continuing its movement, carriesthe hammer-stem into contact with the set-screw e of said lever, therebyarresting the hammer and allowing the stock to move forward from it.Then the eontact-sprin g F, slipping its engagement with the lever,frees said lever,

' and the hammer, under the power of its spring,

delivers its blow on the end Z) of the pluggerpoint holder. Then thespring l'I returns the holder to primary position. These are the truemovements, though for the sake of clear ness it may be well to statethat the apparent operation is as follows: The point being pressed onthe gold, the holder is thereby forced upwardly, so that itscontact-spring 1 bearing on lever E, forces said lever upwardly, andthis in turn forces the hammer upwardly, which, when relieved by theslipping by of the contact-spring, delivers its blow. The placing of thesocket or seat portion a at an angle with the stock or main portion ofthe handle provides for the use of the instrument in filling posteriorcavities of mo lar and bicuspid teeth, and yet makes it possible todeliver a direct blow upon the point. The placing of said socket or seatportion at an acute angle provides for the more ready slipping of theengagement of the contactspring F and lever E, the former moving on anincline away from the latter, the end of which moves on an arc of acircle. The blow is a positive one, being struck by a solid hammer onthe end of a short holder, instead of a springing blow.

The stiffening-piece f for spring F is essential to prevent the springfrom yielding except when contact is made with its under side onthedownward stroke. A spring unguarded would have too great flexibility,and would hold the lever longer at one stroke than at an other by beingbent toward or from said lever.

The holder should have a long bearing in the socket or seat portion ofthe stock, and there should also be a spiral spring to return the holderto primary position; but this spring, ordinarily, takes up too muchroom. By my construction the long tubular bearing G serves the firstrequirement, and the location and arrangement of the spring about saidbearing avoids the objection last stated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a dental plugger, a stock and a plugging-point holder seated inthe end of said stock and at an acute angle therewith, in combinationwith a hammer pivoted in said stock and mounted in the line thereof,whereby it delivers a direct blow on said holder, a spring pivoted insaid stock and lylng in line therewith, its end bearing under the rearend of the ham mer-stem, and a set-screw in the stock 5 5 for governingsaid spring, substantially as described.

2. In a dental plugger, a stock and a springeontrolled plugging-pointholder seated in the end of said stock and at an angle therewith, incombination with a spring-controlled hammer carried by the stock andarranged to deliver a blow on said holder, a lever pivoted in the stockand adapted to force said hammer to position to deliver its blow, and aspring contact-piece carried by the plugging-point holder adapted tooperate and to trip said lever, substantially as described.

3. In a dental plugger, a stock and a springcontrolled plugging-pointholder seated in the end of said stock and at an angle therewith, incombination with a spring-controlled hammer carried by the stock andarranged to deliver a blow on said holder, a lever pivoted in the stockand adapted to force said hammer to position to delit'er'its blow, acontactspring carried by the plugging-point holder adapted to operateand to trip said lever, and a rigid strip carried by said holder forstiffening the body of the contact-spring and gov- 8o erning themovement of its contact end, substantially as described. a

4;. In a dental plugger, a stock and a plugging-point holder seated inthe end of said stock and at an angle therewith, in combination with aspring-controlled hammer carried by said stock and arranged to deliver ablow on said holder, a lever pivoted in the stock and adapted to forcesaid hammer to position to deliver its blow, a set-screw mounted in 0said lever for governing its contact with the hammer and varying thelength of its stroke, and a spring contact-piece on the pluggingpointholder for operating the lever, substantially as described. 5

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY (JRAIGIE.

\Vitnesses:

W. R. WRIGHT, J. II. BLooo.

